University President Michael Gottfredson made an appearance at  the University of Oregon Health Center’s annual faculty and staff flu clinics early Thursday morning. Through the end of October, faculty and staff can receive flu shots with their faculty ID and PEBB Providence Insurance Card from 8-9 a.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Faculty or staff without an insurance card can pay the $15 fee with cash or check.
Gottfredson gets a flu shot every year.
“It’s a good prevention practice,” he said. “The flu is an important health isue and I’m hopeful not to get it and I’m hopeful not to spread it to others … plus, [the shot] really doesn’t hurt.”
Students can also receive flu shots at the Health Center between 9 and 11:30 a.m., or from 1-4 p.m. every weekday with their student ID. The $15 fee will be charged to their student billing account upon completion, and flu shots will be available until stock runs out — usually between January and June of the following year.
According to Health Center Promotion and Marketing Manager Keith Van Norman, both student and faculty clinics have seen a steady turn out this year — though he stressed that there’s always room for more. Not only can a $15 flu shot prevent lost time due to illness, it’s also important to protect the campus as a whole, he said
“The flu goes around every year at the UO and it’s important that people get their flu shots for preventative care … If you’re going to be out of commission for a week you’ll miss 10 percent of your classes and it will cost you a lot of money and time,” Van Norman said. “For $15 to prevent that — it’s a really good return on that investment.”